Crossing the K5

What a trip this was.  We crossed the K-5 (world's largest landmine belt) into the town of Poipet, only to see some crazy little sights... and smells.

The first thing to be seen, as we walk across a small bridge into Cambodia, are people down below carrying bags upon bags of goods.  They have stacks of clothing tied to their bodies and a set of clothes over the top to disguise the amount of goods that they are smuggling across the border.  Full bags hanging over their shoulders.  Kids.  Adults.  They are illegally crossing the border with merchandise to sell in Thailand.  As I find myself chuckling at these blatant border runs a small girl, perhaps three years, comes over and tries to take an item from the small plastic bag that I am carrying.  Chris had warned us to shy away or watch border kids very closely bc they notoriously steal from your bags and pockets.  Avoiding hand shakes and high fives is an extremely difficult task for an elementary school teacher.

I chuckle at the paradox and quickly turn to Chris for answers.

After adding another stamp to our passports we step out onto the dirt roads of Cambodia and see this huge, clean casino.  Now, let me just say the difference between the roads in Cambodia and Thailand is truly remarkable.  You go from paved "western" roads to dirt roads that blow everywhere the wind goes.  Reminiscent of a ghost town.  A ghost town with a random, crisp white casino (nothing stays white in se asia).  I chuckle at the paradox and quickly turn to Chris for answers.

Apparently, casino's are illegal in Thailand, so the Thai officials have paid off the Cambodian govt. and have opened a Thai casino literally footsteps across the Cambodian border.  The messed up part is that Khmer's aren't allowed inside the casino, unless they are employees of the establishment.  Only the beginning of the govt. corruption that is Cambodia.

We've successfully crossed the K-5 and have begun our journey towards Siem Reap.  Some of the most traitorous roads that one could possibly endure.  Another little scam... a Thai airline company has paid off the Cambodian govt., so that they don't repair the roads to Siem Reap.  This way barang foreigners will pay Thailand to fly verses traveling overland.  The road is terrible, but fully worth the Cambodian experience.